![]() “Having a safe, engaging place for children to play is a benefit for so many and an investment we want to make for now and the future.”įor more information on the project or how to contribute, visit. “I can't stress enough how much of a benefit this new playground will be to the community at large,” Whitlock said. Some of the local businesses that have contributed so far include Donut Shack, Mid-Atlantic Deck and Fence, Reliable Contracting, Severna Park Racquetball & Fitness Club and WaveStrike. “This is truly a community-wide effort,” Whitlock said.ĭonations have also been made in the form of fencing, trees and benches that will line the outside of the new playground. The sum of the donations comes mainly from corporate sponsors and a silent auction. To date, the committee has raised nearly $30,000. Projects like this are required to meet certain guidelines of the county before being built, thus the need to give the money over before beginning construction. Upon raising the funds, the Shipley's Choice PTA would then give that money to AACPS, which would use that gift to build the playground. “We have had an incredibly dedicated PTA committee who have come together to lead this amazing process,” Whitlock said. Surveys were sent out to the community asking who would support the efforts necessary to build a new playground, and the results were positive. The design includes a GameTime play structure, a Kompan spacenet, and an asphalt play area that will feature hopscotch, four square and a map of the United States. The committee has set a goal of raising $140,000 to install a state-of-the-art playground at Shipley's Choice. Today, these iconic structures have become renowned in Australia and worldwide, serving as expressive symbols that invite children to ascend to the pinnacle and experience the thrill of height while honing their abilities. Playground pieces and the installation required are not inexpensive.” The Spacenet concept was invented and developed by the Berlin-based architect Conrad Roland in 1971. “We are beginning this fundraising initiative now. “We want to be prepared in case we face the same situation with other major pieces,” said Jennifer Whitlock, the PTA president at Shipley's Choice. Last December, a student was injured because of a piece of equipment that fell out of code for safety requirements. "It's not a long-term fix at all.”Ī special paint product has been applied to older, sometimes rusting playground parts to keep the equipment suitable. “Right now, it's just a Band-Aid,” said Jen DiPietro, another member of the PTA committee working toward a new playground. Funding has been allocated for yearly maintenance, but the equipment that has been around since the 1998-1999 school year is in need of more. “They are trying to do some maintenance work on it to keep it in place for as long as they can.”ĭue to limited financial resources, Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) does not fund new playgrounds. “It's starting to show its wear and tear and its age,” said Angela Ballagh, a member of the PTA committee working to bring a new playground to the Millersville community. The time has come, though, for the playground to be not just repaired but completely replaced. For 16 years, the children of Shipley's Choice Elementary School and the surrounding community have enjoyed the local playground where they climb over tires, swing from bars overhead and play tag.
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